Question:
for Allie Bishop,is the carnation instant breakfast you put in,sugarfree?

Also,my Doctor says absolutely nothing chocolate.Not even sugarfree fudgecycles.Please explain.I've seen others who talk about chocolate,red meat etc.,but I've been told that they are major NO-NO's.    — margie R. (posted on August 13, 2000)

August 13, 2000
I think I met this doctor in Memphis. He was adamantly opposed to chocolate in any form, even 0g of sugar, high protein, no other added frills. He said one taste of chocolate and the wt loss will stop! Since it's been 6 yrs for me, I wonder when it'll hit me. I serve me chocolate 4 to 6 times a day and the more I got during the wt loss, the thinner I got. Now, it just all goes to make me healthy and hold a stable weight. But it is chocolate protein, mixed with water, so the total sugar grams are 0. But on the other hand, I had the feeling he didn't know you could GET chocolate with 0g of sugar. I have a healthy fear of sugar, of course, but I don't see chocolate and sugar as the same thing. I wonder if any other docs forbid chocolate protein because it is chocolate?
   — vitalady

August 13, 2000
Hi Margie! The Carnation Instant Breakfast I drink is ABSOLUTELY SUGAR FREE...as far as chocolate is concerned, BTC gives us a lot of post op recipes and alot of them, especially during the liquid stage, are chocolate. Like Michelle, I have a fear of sugar, and since my surgery, I can watch my children eat a package of M&Ms or chocolate chip cookies with absolutely no regret or resentment. However, I was also very worried that during the liquid stage, with all the sugar free sweet stuff that we have in order to get protien in, that it would trigger my worse cravings: all things chocolate! But I have found that sweet is the last thing I want - I am tired of it, I want meat and veggies! Again, all doctors are different though: some have their patients on soft diets before they leave the hospital, some have their patients on liquids for 8 weeks. It is always best to follow your doctor's program...Good Luck to you and I will be thinking about you during your surgery.
   — Allie B.

August 14, 2000
The carnation instant breakfast drink has powdered milk in it to increase the protein. Unfortunately, this also includes a good dose of lactose (milk sugar). If you are lactose intolerant like me, drinking the CIB mixed with milk is a bad idea. Whether it's the no-sugar-added or the regular CIB, I can't drink it.
   — Lynn K.

August 14, 2000
My apologies...when I stated that my CIB was 'ABSOLUTELY SUGAR FREE', I meant in the affirmative, not the definitive. I apologize for any confusion I may have caused. CIB SF Vanilla contains 7 gms of sugarS, all of which is milk sugar (lactose). This is noted by three asterisks (***) next to Sugars 7 gm on the Nutrition Facts. Aspartame (NutraSweet) is used as the sweetener. BTC says that these sugars are tolerated well: Dextrin, Fructose, Galactose, Glucose, Invert Sugar, Lactose, Maltose and Sorghum. The benefits of CIB include 4 gms of protein, and 20-25% of the RDA of several vitamins. I am not lactose intolerant, which is a good thing, otherwise I would be in serious trouble on this full liquid phase as I am getting most of my protien from milk products.
   — Allie B.

August 14, 2000
I want to thank everyone who responded to my question.every one of them has been very helpful.Thanks so much,margie
   — margie R.